Ashraful retains his captaincy

Bangladesh will retain Mohammad Ashraful as national captain for a limited overs home series against Pakistan in March and the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

Ashraful has been under pressure after scoring only 12 runs in three one-day internationals at home against Zimbabwe last month.

A Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman said on Saturday Ashraful's position would be reviewed before a tour of West Indies following the World Cup.

"We have decided to give him more time. He will remain under observation during the period," he said after a board executive meeting.

The spokesman said pace bowler Mashrafe Mortaza and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim were potential replacements.

Bangladesh beats Sri Lanka by five wickets

All rounder Shakib Al Hasan hit an unbeaten 92 to guide Bangladesh to a comfortable five-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Wednesday and a place in the final of their triangular one-day series.

Bangladesh had to win with considerable margin to get a place in the final at the expense of Zimbabwe, and reached the 148-run target with seven overs to spare in a match reduced to 31 overs per side.

Hasan's impressive knock of 92 from 69 balls with 10 fours and two sixes rescued the hosts from early trouble, having slipped to 11-3.

Both openers Junaid Siddique (0) and Tamim Iqbal (9) were run out, while Thilan Thushara had Mushfiqur Rahim (1) caught behind.

Al Hasan and captain Mohammad Ashraful put on 91 runs for the fourth wicket in a stand that turned the course of the match.

Nuwan Kulasekara broke the partnership when Ashraful (26) tried his favorite hook shot and was caught near the boundary by Sanath Jayasuriya. Ajantha Mendis then dismissed Raqibul Hasan (3) cheaply, putting the match back in the balance with Bangladesh on 126-5.

Hasan and Naeem Islam (12) reached the winning target, with Islam hitting a four and then a six off the final two balls, giving Bangladesh a bonus point to overhaul Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will meet again in Friday's final.

Earlier, a strong bowling performance, highlighted by four wickets on debut by 19-year-old seamer Rubel Hossain, justified Bangladesh's decision to send Sri Lanka in to bat after winning the toss.

After the start was delayed by more than three hours by fog, reducing the contest to 31 overs per side, Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya hit a half century but the visitors' innings fell apart late, losing their last five wickets for just 23 runs.

Sri Lanka was in trouble early, stumbling to 4-2 after opening bowler Mashrafe bin Mortaza struck early, trapping opener Upul Tharanga lbw and then bowling Kumar Sangakkara, both for ducks.

But Jayasuriya took up the reins with captain Mahela Jayawardene, adding 71 runs for the third wicket before Islam had the skipper caught at midwicket on 28.

Jayasuriya (54), partnered by Chamara Kapugedara, lifted the score to 95 before being caught and bowled by Mortaza, who returned figures of 3-25 in his allotted seven overs. Jayasuriya's 67th one-day fifty came off 61 balls and included six boundaries.

Sri Lanka lost the next three middle-order wickets for just six runs.

Rookie Hossain, 19, got his first international wicket when he dismissed Angelo Mathews (2), after Jehan Mubarak was run out on 10.

The visitors were reduced to 130-7 when Mahbubul Alam bowled Kapugedera (28).

Hossain then dismissed Nuwan Kulasekara (5), had Thilan Thushara (0) caught behind and took the last wicket of Ajantha Mendis (0) with three balls unused, to end up with 4-33 on his international debut.

Al Hasan inspires Tigers
SkySports

Hasan batting blitz sees Bangladesh stun Sri Lanka
AFP

Bangladesh storm into final
Bangladesh News 24 hours

It was my best innings: Shakib
Bangladesh News 24 hours

Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets
The Daily Star, Bangladesh

Zimbabwe 205-9 beat Bangladesh 167 by 38 runs

Elton Chigumbura led the way with a vital fifty as Zimbabwe defeated hosts Bangladesh by 38 runs in the first match of the three-team tournament.

Chigumbura hit a patient 64 to steer the tourists to 205-9, while Shakib Al Hasan claimed 3-23 and Naeem Islam took 3-32 for the hosts.

The Tigers slumped to 33-4 before Shakib scored a defiant 52 but the hosts were dismissed for 167.

Bangladesh now have to beat Sri Lanka to stay in contention for a final spot.

Chigumbura's 64 came off 95 deliveries and contained five boundaries, while captain Prosper Utseya claimed 2-22 for the tourists.

The second match of the series between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe takes place in Mirpur on Monday.

ICL to close shop?

This could well be biggest development of 2009. The rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) is all set to be wound up, if the rumour mills are anything to go by. The buzz in the Indian cricket circles is that by the second week of January, the first signs of a rapproachment between the ICL and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to emerge.

This follows a meeting held in New Delhi between the International Cricket Council (ICC) president David Morgan and vice-president Sharad Pawar with senior ICL officials including its chairman Subhash Chandra. Pawar, a former BCCI president is now leading the talks on behalf both India and also the ICC. The sum total of the discussions is likely to result in ICL being winding up and the ban on the players joining the league being lifted.

Also likely to go is the ban on Zee bidding for TV rights held by the BCCI. But the biggest development is likely to be the fact that ICL will be allowed to buy one team in BCCI's own Indian Premier League (IPL).

ICC on its part too likely to send a list of guidelines for ICL for it be integrated in the mainstream. All said, sources within the ICL and the BCCI claim that a major announcement is likely on January 31 when the ICC executive board meeting sits in Perth.

http://www.cricketnirvana.com/truth-gossip/2009/January/truth-gossip-20090102-2.html

Bangladesh Tri-Series 2008-09

1st Match - Bangladesh v Zimbabwe
10 Jan - Mirpur

2nd Match - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
12 Jan - Mirpur

3rd Match - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
14 Jan - Mirpur

Final - TBC v TBC
16 Jan - Mirpur

Ashraful, Mushfiqur handed fines

Tigers captain Mohammad Ashraful and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim have both been fined for excessive appealing during the third day's play of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka.

Ashraful has been fined 15 per cent of his match fees while Mushfiqur was docked 50 per cent of his remunerations.

According to an ICC media release, the pair were handed the punishment by match referee Jeff Crowe following hearings which were held in Chittagong on Tuesday after the match. The on field umpires Steve Bucknor and Nigel Llong, third umpire Nadir Shah and fourth umpire Anisur Rahman laid the charges.

Ashraful was found to have breached Level 1.5 of the ICC code of conduct that relates to "excessive appealing" while Mushfiqur was found guilty of a charge under Level 2.5 that deals with "charging or advancing towards the umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing".

The incident happened in the Sri Lanka second innings when an appeal off Mehrab Hossain's bowling was turned down.

During the second Test, the match referee also spoke to Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes following similar conduct.

The players charged, as well as Bangladesh manager Shafiqul Haque, coach Jamie Siddons and the four umpires attended the hearing.

Sri Lanka beats Bangladesh by 465

Sri Lanka won the second cricket Test against Bangladesh by 465 runs Tuesday - the fifth-largest winning run margin in Test history - taking the series 2-0 after all-rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan claimed four wickets to add to his century in each innings.

Dilshan, who scored 162 and 143 with the bat, took 4-10 in 4.2 overs to help dismiss Bangladesh for 158 after a 92-run sixth-wicket stand between Mushfiqur Rahim (43) and Shakib Al Hasan (46) took the hosts to 144-6 in the unlikely pursuit of 624 to win.

Al Hasan was stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene off Dilshan, who then trapped Mehrab Hossain lbw for 5, had Mashrafe bin Mortaza caught behind for 0 and then bowled Shahadat Hossain for 1 at Chittagong Divisional Stadium.

Earlier, Sri Lanka declared on 447-6 at lunch with Thilan Samaraweera (77) and Chamara Kapugedera (59 not out) scoring half-centuries and add to Dilshan's hundred and Kumar Sangakkara's 54.

Bangladesh had lost both opening batsmen by the time the score was 22. Unorthodox finger spinner Ajantha Mendis had Imrul Kayes caught at first slip by Mahela Jayawardene for five and Tamim Iqbal was caught behind for 17 off Chaminda Vaas.

Mendis dismissed Junaid Siddique lbw for four before having Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful caught behind for seven and ultimately finished with figures of 3-57. Dilhara Fernando then bowled Raqibul Hasan for 10 to leave the hosts at 52-5.

Sri Lanka had resumed the day on 296-4 and Al Hasan made an early breakthrough for Bangladesh, trapping Samaraweera lbw to end his 145-run partnership with Dilshan.

Dilshan then batted with Kapugedara to complete his seventh Test century before being bowled by Enamul Haque for 143. Dilshan's hundred came off 130 balls and included 11 boundaries.

Ashraful took 2-56, while Haque had figures of 2-109.

Sri Lanka won the first Test in Dhaka by 107 runs.

Zimbabwe cricket team arrives in Dhaka

A 15-member Zimbabwe National Cricket team, led by 23-year-old all-rounder Prosper Utseya, arrived here on Sunday morning by an Emirates flight.

During their three-week tour to Bangladesh, Zimbabwe will play in the GrameenPhone Tri-nation Cup involving hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dhaka.

In the Tri-nation Cup, Zimbabwe will play hosts Bangladesh on January 10 and will meet Sri Lanka on January 12, both at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka on Jan 12 while the final match will be held on January 16 at the same venue.

After the tri-nation cup, visiting Zimbabwe will also play a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh on January 19, 21 and 23, all at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, before leaving the city on January 24.

The Zimbabweans will start their Bangladesh campaign with a three-day warm-up match against GP-BCB National Cricket Academy team on January 6 at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.

The Zimbabwe team already left the capital this (Sunday) afternoon for Bogra where they will have a practice session tomorrow (Monday).

Zimbabwe team: Prosper Utseya (captain), Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Keith Dabengwa, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Forster Mutizwa, Ray Price, Edward Rainsford, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams.

News of the assosiate members

Read this news from here:
Two up, four down
http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/review2008/content/current/story/384413.html

Mortaza's defiance: Bangladesh avoid follow on

Mashrafe Mortaza launches the ball into orbit, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Chittagong, 2nd day, January 4, 2009

2nd Day
Bangladesh tailender Mashrafe bin Mortaza hit a remarkable half century on Sunday to steer the hosts away from a follow-on, but Sri Lanka still finished day two of the second Test in a commanding position.

Sri Lanka was bowled out for 384 early Saturday and was in a prime position to enforce the follow-on when Bangladesh slid to 145-9 in reply.

However Mortaza (63) and No. 11 Shahadat Hossain put on 63 runs for the final wicket - of which Hossain contributed just five - to avoid the follow-on.

At stumps, Sri Lanka was 13-0 in its second innings.

Bangladesh started the day promisingly, taking the last four Sri Lanka wickets for only eight runs within 25 of the start of play, but their batting followed the pattern of the first Test, getting starts but being unable to form any good partnerships.

Sri Lanka paceman Chaminda Vaas (2-21) got opener Tamim Iqbal (0) caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardene without a run on the board and then trapped Imrul Kayes (6) lbw. Spinner Ajantha Mendis removed Raqibal Hasan for a duck to have the home side at 33-3.

Junaid Siddique and captain Mohammad Ashraful put on 32 runs for the fourth wicket before Dilhara Fernando bowled Siddique (28).

Bangladesh slumped to 90-6 after Mendis claimed lbw wickets with successive balls, removing Mehrab Hossain (18) and Shakib Al Hasan (0).

Ashraful (45)and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim raised the score to 122 when the captain was caught behind off Muttiah Muralitharan.

After tea, Rahim (21) was next to go, stumped by his counterpart Jayawardene off Mendis. Then Muralitharan had Enamul Haque (4) caught behind and Bangladesh looked condemned to a follow-on.

However Mortaza then took over, with his spirited 63 coming off 89 balls with eight fours and two sixes. He was caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan off Muralitharan trying for another big hit.

It was the first Test half-century for Mortaza, who finished with 3-58 with the ball.

Mendis returned figures of 4-71, and his spin partner Muralitharan took 3-62

Sri Lanka strike back as Bangladesh struggle
Daily Nation, Kenya

Sri Lanka on top in Test despite Mortaza's defiance
AFP

Mortaza believes comeback still possible
CricInfo.com, UK

Sri Lanka leave Test rivals in a spin
CNN International

Bangladesh avoid follow on but Sri Lanka on top
Reuters India, India

Carrom Ball

Dilshan leads Sri Lanka

1st Day
Tillakratne Dilshan hit an unbeaten 95 to take Sri Lanka to 229-5 at tea on the opening day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh here on Saturday.

The middle-order batsman smashed two sixes and 14 fours in his entertaining 81-ball knock to steady the visitors, tottering at 75-4 after skipper Mahela Jayawardene elected to bat.

Dilshan also shared a 119-run stand for the fifth wicket with opener Malinda Warnapura (63) to lead a remarkable fightback by the visitors.

Warnapura hit six fours in his patient 151-ball effort before being trapped leg-before by part-time spinner Mohammad Ashraful.

The Bangladeshi bowlers struggled for most part of the afternoon as they took just one wicket, that of Thilan Samarweera (19), while conceding 163 runs off 30 overs.

Samarweera inside-edged a Shahadat Hossain delivery on to his stumps to squander a good start.

Hossain, however, was severely punished by Dilshan who smashed one six and three fours in one over by the paceman.

Dilshan also enjoyed a slice of luck when he was dropped on 82 off Mehrab Hossain, with Junaid Siddique grassing a catch at first slip.

Earlier paceman Mashrafe Mortaza picked two wickets in his first two overs to make early inroads into the Sri Lankan batting line-up.

Mortaza trapped opener Prasanna Jayawardene leg-before for no score before removing Kumar Sangakkara (five), who played the delivery on to his stumps.

The hosts then earned the big wicket of the Sri Lanka captain when Shakib Al Hasan induced a thin edge which was caught by wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim.

Jayawardene, playing his 100th Test, made 11 off 46 balls with one four.

Twenty20 threatening Bangladesh Test status

Bangladesh could find their Test status is removed as other nations look to create space for Twenty20 in the calendar.

Complaints about the Bangladeshis' on-field performances have been a regular theme of the last eight years, but it is financial logic that has now led the leading cricket powers to turn against them.

With a growing number of Twenty20 tournaments competing for space in the calendar, teams like England and Australia are no longer prepared to play loss-making series against a team that has failed to improve since their inaugural Test in November 2000. Bangladesh's overall record now stands at one win (against Zimbabwe) from 58 matches.

"There is no reason why a team should have to play Test matches just because it is a full member of the International Cricket Council," said ICC president David Morgan. "If a team is not gaining anything from the experience, then perhaps it might be better to settle for one-day international status."

Bangladesh's future will be discussed at the ICC executive board meeting in Perth at the end of January. They will receive little support from James Sutherland, chief executive of Cricket Australia, who told Telegraph Sport this week that he believes Bangladesh are driving down the quality of international cricket at a time when it is especially important to maintain high standards.

"With the growth in the Twenty20 market, it is important to take the clutter out of the game," said Sutherland. "We need to make sure we are playing cricket for quality's sake, not for quantity, and in recent times I'm not sure that the quality has always been there.

"The Bangladesh team that came here this year performed far worse than the previous team, which toured in 2003. It's a difficult balancing act, you want to help them develop, but we lost a lot of money hosting them and I don't think their presence is doing anything for the game."

Even one-day series – such as the one played in Australia in August and September – could become difficult for the Bangladesh Cricket Board to organise in the current climate. England, who are due to host two Tests against the Bangladeshis at the start of the 2010 summer, are especially keen to find some replacements who might be more commercially viable.

Bangladesh may be the seventh-most populous country in the world, but their development system has failed to produce any convincing international players for several years now. They have also been weakened by a spate of recent defections to the Indian Cricket League, including that of former captain Habibul Bashar.

Despite a late rally against Sri Lanka last week, which saw them fall only 107 runs short of a target of 521, Bangladesh's Test side are living on borrowed time.

From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/bangladesh/4075107/Twenty20-threatening-Bangladesh-Test-status.html

Twenty20 threatening Bangladesh Test status

Bangladesh could find their Test status is removed as other nations look to create space for Twenty20 in the calendar.

Complaints about the Bangladeshis' on-field performances have been a regular theme of the last eight years, but it is financial logic that has now led the leading cricket powers to turn against them.

With a growing number of Twenty20 tournaments competing for space in the calendar, teams like England and Australia are no longer prepared to play loss-making series against a team that has failed to improve since their inaugural Test in November 2000. Bangladesh's overall record now stands at one win (against Zimbabwe) from 58 matches.

"There is no reason why a team should have to play Test matches just because it is a full member of the International Cricket Council," said ICC president David Morgan. "If a team is not gaining anything from the experience, then perhaps it might be better to settle for one-day international status."

Bangladesh's future will be discussed at the ICC executive board meeting in Perth at the end of January. They will receive little support from James Sutherland, chief executive of Cricket Australia, who told Telegraph Sport this week that he believes Bangladesh are driving down the quality of international cricket at a time when it is especially important to maintain high standards.

"With the growth in the Twenty20 market, it is important to take the clutter out of the game," said Sutherland. "We need to make sure we are playing cricket for quality's sake, not for quantity, and in recent times I'm not sure that the quality has always been there.

"The Bangladesh team that came here this year performed far worse than the previous team, which toured in 2003. It's a difficult balancing act, you want to help them develop, but we lost a lot of money hosting them and I don't think their presence is doing anything for the game."

Even one-day series – such as the one played in Australia in August and September – could become difficult for the Bangladesh Cricket Board to organise in the current climate. England, who are due to host two Tests against the Bangladeshis at the start of the 2010 summer, are especially keen to find some replacements who might be more commercially viable.

Bangladesh may be the seventh-most populous country in the world, but their development system has failed to produce any convincing international players for several years now. They have also been weakened by a spate of recent defections to the Indian Cricket League, including that of former captain Habibul Bashar.

Despite a late rally against Sri Lanka last week, which saw them fall only 107 runs short of a target of 521, Bangladesh's Test side are living on borrowed time.

From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/bangladesh/4075107/Twenty20-threatening-Bangladesh-Test-status.html

South Africa Seals First Test Cricket Series Win in Australia

South Africa clinched an historic Test series win in Australia to leave the Baggy Greens facing an uncertain future after years of domination.

Fresh from their series defeat in India, Ricky Ponting's Aussies were expected to return to the routine of smashing opponents around on home turf – notwithstanding the talent of the current South Africa side.

A 2-0 series win against New Zealand had the train back on the rails before the arrival of Graeme Smith's saboteurs, with two gutsy fightbacks by the Proteas in each of the two Tests so far have leaving the hosts with some hard questions before their Ashes tour of England in the summer.

Hashim Amla hit the winning runs on Tuesday as the tourists reached their target of 183 to win by a massive nine wickets.

Captain Smith stroked 75 before falling just before lunch as Neil McKenzie, with 59 not out, and Amla saw South Africa home.

Dale Steyn, who took five wickets in the Aussies' second innings and hit 76 in South Africa's first, was voted man-of-the-match.

Ponting must deal with the reality of becoming the first captain in 16 years to cede a series defeat at home, while question marks hang over the futures of batsmen Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey – giants of their craft currently going through torrid spells.

Where paceman Brett Lee used to provide the support for Glenn McGrath in the attack, he now holds the cutting edge without which his own support bowlers look lacking.

And after Jason Krejza's promising start in India, it now looks like there will be a long, hard search for a replacement capable of hitting half the heights of spin legend Shane Warne.

Ponting said there were few positives to be taken from his side's performances.

"South Africa have outplayed us in all the big moments of these two Test matches," he said. "There are some positives there for us, but not many. This is a series win for them that's well-deserved." The sides now travel to Sydney for the third and final Test, with Australia needing to turn their big starts into a win. They had set South Africa a huge run chase of 414 in the first match in Perth, only to see their opponents whittle it down with little fuss. And on day two at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground the tourists were 198-7, almost 200 runs behind Australia, before Steyn and rookie Duminy shared an incredible ninth-wicket partnership of 180 to get the Proteas back in the match.

Brave Bangladesh lost 1st test against SriLanka by 107 runs

Shakib Al Hasan holds the Man-of-the-Match award , Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Dhaka, 5th day, December 31, 2008

5th Day

Sri Lanka 293 (Samaraweera 90, Vandort 44, Shakib 5-70) and 405 for 6 dec (Mahela Jayawardene 166, Sangakkara 67) beat Bangladesh 178 (Kayes 33, Muralitharan 6-49) and 413 (Ashraful 101, Shakib 96, Muralitharan 4-141) by 107 runs
Bangladesh made a fight of it but Sri Lanka ultimately won the first cricket Test on Wednesday, denying a spirited effort by the host side.Chasing 521 for victory, Bangladesh looked like it had a chance to pull off an extraordinary victory when it moved to 403-6, but lost its last four wickets for just 10 runs, giving Sri Lanka a 107-run win.Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful recorded his fifth Test century and Shakib Al Hasan made 96 to give Bangladesh an outside chance at a rare Test win, while Muttiah Muralitharan took 4-141 to finish with 10 wickets for the match.Resuming at 254-5, Bangladesh's run chase suffered a jolt when Ashraful was trapped lbw by Chaminda Vaas in the day's first session.But Shakib Al Hasan took over the chief responsibility from the captain and shared a 111-run stand for the seventh wicket with wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.Hasan was bowled by Dammika Prasad just four runs of a century, while Rahim (61) was caught by Tilakaratne Dilshan off Muralitharan, with the final two wickets then falling quickly.Ashraful scored his fourth 100 against Sri Lanka since becoming the youngest Test century-scorer at Colombo on his international debut in 2001 at age 17. His innings included 16 boundaries.
Jayawardene praises Bangladesh fight
CricInfo.com, UK
Sri Lanka see off brave Bangladesh by 107 runs
Rediff, India
Sri Lanka repel Bangladesh charge
The Press Association
Ashraful century leads Bangladesh fightback
International Herald Tribune
Bangladesh Fall Short Despite Ashraful Century
Cricket World, UK

Ashraful is on song

Mohammad Ashraful takes a run, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Dhaka, 4th day, December 30, 2008
4rd Day
Captain Mohammad Ashraful hit an unbeaten half-century Tuesday to leave Bangladesh needing another 267 runs to beat Sri Lanka on the final day of the first cricket Test with six wickets in hand.

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed three wickets before an unbeaten 74-run sixth-wicket stand between Ashraful (70) and Shakib Al Hasan (34) boosted Bangladesh to 254-5 by stumps on the fourth day. The hosts had been floundering at 150-4 at tea.

Ashraful's eighth Test 50 contained 11 fours in 153 balls, and also ushered him into the 2,000-run club in his 47th match.

Ashraful had become the youngest Test century-scorer against Sri Lanka in Colombo on his international debut in 2001 at age 17.

Earlier, Sri Lanka declared its second innings before lunch at 405-6, anchored by captain Mahela Jayawardene's 166.

Bangladesh's run chase started badly when opener Imrul Kayes was run out for 13.

Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique took the score to 72 in the second session before Iqbal was caught by Jayawardene off Dammika Prasad for 47.

Siddique and Raqibul Hasan's third-wicket stand brought 52 runs until Siddique (37) was also caught by Jayawardene, this time off Muralitharan.

Muralitharan claimed his second wicket when he bowled Hasan for 24. He also dismissed Mehrab Hossain for 23 after tea.

Muralitharan finished the day with figures of 3-85 off 28 overs.

Resuming on 291-4 after a break day Monday for the Bangladesh election, Jayawardene added 37 to his overnight score of 129 before Siddique caught him off Mehrab Hossain. Jayawardene's 24th test century came off 269 balls with 19 boundaries and one six.

Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 47 before he was caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Shakib Al Hasan, while Prasanna Jayawardene (3) and Chaminda Vaas (15) were unbeaten when Sri Lanka declared its innings.

Mashrafe bin Mortaza and Mehrab Hossain took two wickets apiece, while Mahbubul Alam and Shakib Al Hasan got one each.

Cricket- Sri Lanka v Bangladesh first test scoreboard Reuters.uk
Sri Lanka declares at 405 takes commanding lead International Herald Tribune
'We need only two wickets' - Dilshan
CricInfo.com
Cricket-Bangladesh (178&)254-5 v S Lanka (293&405-6 dec) - close
Reuters.uk, UK

SriLanka firmly in control

Muttiah Muralitharan appeals, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Mirpur, 1st day, December 26, 2008

2nd Day

Sri Lanka's old guard, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, struck back on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh to put their side firmly in control.

The pair claimed five and two wickets respectively, leaving the hosts on 177 for nine at stumps and continuing a fightback which began as Sri Lanka took their total close to 300 before being bowled out by lunch in Mirpur.

Vaas struck a stubborn 37, supporting Thilan Samaraweera (90) as the pair put on 99 for the seventh wicket to take the tourists to 293, despite figures of five for 70 from Shakib Al Hasan.

Resuming on 172 for six, the hosts began the morning session looking to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings in short order but found Samaraweera and Vaas resolute obstacles.

Vaas cracked the first boundary of the day in just the third over when he cut Shahadat Hossain to the fence before giving Al Hasan the same treatment.

Samaraweera then took over, punishing Mahbubul Alam with consecutive fours as Sri Lanka forged past 200. The 32-year-old then whipped Al Hasan through midwicket for his eighth boundary to bring up his 16th Test fifty from 83 balls.

Mashrafe Mortaza made the breakthrough with the new ball, getting one to move one away from Vaas and a thin edge carried through to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim to leave Sri Lanka 270 for seven.

Shakib then removed Dammika Prasad for three and Rangana Herath was run out, before the spinner removed Samaraweera to end the innings.

Bangladesh began their reply confidently, reaching 44 before Tamim Iqbal (17) gloved Muralitharan to Malinda Warnapura at short leg.

It was a steady stream after that, with Imrul Kayes (33) falling to a Vaas short ball and Mohammad Ashraful (12) finding Tillakaratne Dilshan with an uppish drive to give the seamer his second.

Muralitharan then bowled Junaid Siddique for 29 in the last over before tea, going on to complete his haul of five for 48 as the hosts' tail capitulated.

Sri Lanka will want to nab the final wicket quickly on Sunday, and get going with their second inning.

Shakib strikes leave SL in trouble CricInfo.com
Bangladesh loses 9 wickets in run chase eTaiwan News
Bangladesh fold to Muralitharan BBC Sport

Sakib put pressure on Sri Lanka

Mohammad Ashraful has a word with Shahadat Hossain, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Mirpur, 1st day, December 26, 2008

1st Day
Shakib Al Hasan and Shahadat Hossain shared five quick wickets to spark Sri Lanka's collapse on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh here on Friday.Left-arm spinner Hasan grabbed 3-43 and seamer Hossain 2-47 as Sri Lanka slipped from a healthy 119-1 to 172-6 at stumps after electing to bat.Thilan Samaraweera was unbeaten on 20 and Chaminda Vaas had yet to open his account when the day's play was called off due to bad light.Sri Lanka were on course for a big total following a 95-run stand for the second wicket between opener Michael Vandort (44) and Kumar Sangakkara (43) before faltering against the spin-pace combination.Hasan started the slide when he had Sangakkara caught by skipper Mohammad Ashraful at mid-wicket. The Sri Lankan hit seven fours, including two in the spinner's one over.Vandort fell two overs later, top-edging a pull off Hossain to be caught by Hasan at mid-wicket. His 124-ball knock contained a six over long-on off Hasan.Hasan then bowled skipper Mahela Jayawardene (three) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (14) to put Sri Lanka under pressure.Hossain's second victim was wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene (three), who was caught by Tamim Iqbal at fine-leg while attepting to pull.Only 12 overs were possible in the morning session after a delayed start due to heavy fog.The hosts denied Sri Lanka a solid start when paceman Mashrafe Mortaza trapped Malinda Warnapura (14) leg-before in the ninth over with a delivery that came in sharply.
Cricket-Sri Lanka v Bangladesh first test scoreboard Reuters.uk
Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Mirpur CricInfo.com
Bangladesh claims 6 wickets vs. Sri Lanka eTaiwan News

ECB is more worried about money than Test series

So, the news is England is planning to scrap home Test series against Bangladesh after 2010. The question is 'why?' well, the answer is because of the increasing commercial unfeasibility of such contests. Hmm. Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, told reporters in Mohali, India this news where cricket gets its most popularity and money. So, money is the main reason to make this decision. There is no wonder about this decision considering the economic meltdown. But Giles Clarke says that "If we are going to have a proper strategy for Test cricket we want to have games like that we have just had in Chennai,". "It showed everybody just what a Test can be. There is a very hard-fought game between Australia and South Africa taking place in Perth at the moment. So, he is more worried about the holiness of test cricket.

But is it the real reason behind this decision? ECB will start its own IPL version Twenty20 English Premier League which is set to launch in 2010. So, in the future English players will be busier? To give them some relief ECB plans to shed some test series. And Bangladesh tour to England is the softest part of the FTP where ECB will throw its axe. Nowadays, ECB is more concerned about money. Surprisingly, a very much conservative ECB agrees the five year Stanford Twenty20 series (summer picnic) for $100 million. Stanford's high-profile relationship with ECB sealed the deal after landing at Lord's in a helicopter, and with a trunk full of $20m in banknotes. But according to a report in the Daily Mail, the inaugural tournament made a loss of more than US$40 million. This December Stanford scraps the deal and ECB in some trouble. So, we can understand their anguish.

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman a bright gambler who financed his Oxford education playing backgammon and bridge, a committee member of the Society of Merchant Venturers. And everyone in England is not happy about him. One county chairman said: "Clarke is a clown and a pompous one, and David Collier is a poor chief executive. There is no plan. No strategy. Everything is done off the hoof. Clarke should go."

The sad thing is nowadays cricket is run by merchants not by lovers.

Source:
1. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/dec/19/giles-clarke-ecb-allen-stanford-cricket-england
2. http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/382556.html?CMP=OTC-RSS
3.http://content-www.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/379071.html
4.http://content-www.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/current/story/382736.html

Sri Lanka in Bangladesh 2008-09

It is boring

Champaka Ramanayake has a word with Bangladesh's fast bowlers, Dhaka, December 19, 2008

Ranatunga sacked

Sri Lanka's sports minister Gamini Lokuge has dissolved the interim administration of Sri Lanka Cricket, headed by Arjuna Ranatunga, saying the situation at SLC demanded an immediate change.

The sports secretary, S Liyanagama, will oversee the SLC administration until a decision is taken - within the next week, Lokuge said - on whether to call for elections or to appoint another interim administration.

"Arjuna Ranatunga has not been cooperating with the company or the players," Lokuge was quoted as saying by PTI. "We tried to sort it out but could not and he has been removed."

The immediate issue was the sacking of 16 SLC employees by Ranatunga last week. At the time, SLC officials explained the decision by saying those sacked were holding positions no longer required by the organisation. However, the decision was apparently taken without informing the minister, directly contravening his order that he be consulted on every move.

Ranatunga, appointed to the post in January 2008 after Jayantha Dharmadasa decided to step down, has had a controversial tenure. Perhaps his most controversial decision was negotiating a tour of England by the senior team that would overlap with the second season of the IPL, to which many of the players are contracted. Ranatunga said his cash-strapped board badly needed the US$2 million which the ECB was offering as guarantee money for the tour. After a protracted tussle, the tour was eventually called off with West Indies slotted in to replace Sri Lanka.

He has been a vocal critic of the IPL, once comparing it once to instant noodles, and antagonised the Indian board by stating that India lost the first Test to Sri Lanka in July because they played too much Twenty20 cricket. He also sought tighter control for the national board over player contracts with the IPL.

In September, the SLC broke ranks with the official cricketing establishment by deciding to allow five cricketers and an umpire who had signed up for the unauthorised ICL to play domestic cricket.

Ranatunga met President Mahinda Rajapakse on Tuesday and it was widely speculated that he would be given a ministerial post.

from cricinfo

Sri Lanka VS Bangladesh Cricket Board XI

Sri Lanka had a fine batting practice against the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in the drawn three-dayers on Tuesday ahead of the two Tests series starting Dec. 26.

Having resumed on the final day on 36 for two, the visitors went on to make 316 all out in the first innings, with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Prasanna Jayawardene striking half centuries at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan ground. After the first day's play was called off due to foggy condition, Bangladesh were skittled out for just 88 on the second day on Monday.

The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur will host the first Test on Dec 26-31.
Pacer Shahadat Hossain removed opener Michael Vandort, who fell without adding to his overnight score of 17. But captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera repaired the damage to take their side to 87 for four before the latter fell to pacer Saikat Ali for 19.

Six balls later, Saikat again struck to remove Jayawardene, who made an 88-ball 43, to peg the visitors back. But Dilshan along with Prasanna kept the attack of the local selection at bay for the sixth wicket. They together contributed 158 runs before both batsmen retired to allow other batsmen to have some batting practice.

Dilshan struck 88 off 139 balls studded with seven fours and three sixes, while Prasanna hit a 126-ball 70 that included six fours. Later, Chaminda Vaas (24 not out), Dhamika Prasad (14), Farveez Maharoof (7) and Rangana Herath (0) batted before spinner Raihanuddin Arafat cleaned the tail removing the last three batsmen in a row. Arafat and Shahadat grabbed three wickets each for 37 and 63.
from BDnews 24.com

New national team coach for Zimbabwe Cricket

ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) axed national team coach Walter Chawaguta on Thursday, and advertised his job on its website. But Lovemore Banda, the ZC senior manager for communications and media said Chawaguta has not been
fired. "He is free to re-apply if he wishes," Banda said. Chawaguta replaced Robin Brown whose contract was not renewed in August, but the recent drubbing by Sri Lanka in five One Day Internationals has left ZC soul searching. ZC has made it clear that they will not engage a foreign coach. “It is unwarranted and unfortunate for people to disown their own, and all this speculation that ZC are looking at employing a foreign coach is totally unfounded and baseless,” said ZC managing director Ozias Bvute on the ZC website. According the ZC advert, the new coach is expected to lead the team in Test matches-where Zimbabwe is still unable to play, the one day matches and also have five years experience. This means the likes of former seamers Douglas Hondo, Ray Price and Heath Streak can even be considered, as they are locals. ZC flighted two advertisements, one for the senior national team coach and the other for the Zimbabwe A team. Zimbabwe’s next international fixture on the calendar is the opening match of a tri-nation tournament, against Bangladesh, in Dhaka on January 10.

THE ZC ADVERT:

POST 1: NATIONAL TEAM COACH:

1. The Job

• To coach the National Team and coordinate the various activities of the National Team in liaison with the National Team Manager and the other members of the technical staff.

• To plan strategically and prepare the National Cricket Team to play competitively and win
matches in all formats of the game.

• As 1 of the 10 Full Members of the ICC, Zimbabwe will participate in various formats of the
game such as Twenty20, ODIs and Test matches. As such the Coach should be versatile enough to adopt coaching methods to suit the above forms of cricket.

2. The Person:

Candidates must have the following:

• Previously played cricket at least at first class level.
• Be holders of a recognized level 3 coaching certificate and must have coached at senior level for at least 5 years.
• Have good analytical skills.
• Motivate players and be firm and fair
• Good leadership skills and be able to lead both the National Team and the technical staff

from newzimbabwe.com

David Miliband has praised the England cricket team for doing "the right thing"

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has praised the England cricket team for doing "the right thing" by returning to India in the wake of terror attacks.Mr Miliband said the decision showed that those who perpetrated the violence "will not win".The team flew home from India part-way through their one-day series in the wake of last month's carnage in Mumbai, which claimed more than 170 lives.But the squad arrived back on Monday for the two-Test series, insisting they wanted to signal support for the country.They have pledged half their fees from tomorrow's opening Test in Chennai - around £35,000 - to victims of the atrocities.Writing on his blog, Mr Miliband said he "applauded" the decision to return."It will be hard to focus on the cricket but it is the right thing to do," he wrote."Because it reaches out to India which has been wronged; because it shows confidence and commitment; and because it says terrorism will not win."

Taibu - facing assault charges.

Zimbabwe Cricket has been ordered to open its books following claims by former national captain Tatenda Taibu that assault charges he is facing are a part of a strategy to silence him for questioning the management of funds.Taibu appeared in a Harare court Thursday on charges of assaulting ZC finance manager Esther Lupepe in September over outstanding payments owed to him. Taibu said the charges are meant to embarrass and punish him for his criticism of the board.The court ordered ZC to submit documents showing its payroll, sponsorship deals and grants from the International Cricket Council.The 25-year-old Taibu said he had raised concern over the handling of board funds, dubious employment of staff members and poor remuneration of players just a few days before he was arrested on the 30th of September.

Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh, 2008-09

Sun 21 - Tue 23 10:00 local, 04:00 GMT	TBC v Sri Lankans Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan Ground, Savar
Fri 26 - Wed 31 10:00 local, 04:00 GMT	1st Test - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur 29th is a rest day for elections
January 2009
Sat 3 - Wed 7 10:00 local, 04:00 GMT	2nd Test - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka Chittagong Divisional Stadium

Mendis to miss Bangladesh Tests

Spin bowler Ajantha Mendis has been ruled out of Sri Lanka's forthcoming Test series in Bangladesh because of an ankle injury.The 23-year-old, recently named world cricket's Emerging Player of the Year, suffered the injury in a club match.

Mendis will be replaced by Rangana Herath for the two-match series, which starts in Mirpur on 26 December. But he hopes to play in the triangular one-day series, also involving Zimbabwe, which follows in January.

He took 26 wickets at a cost of only 18 runs each, breaking former England seam bowler Alec Bedser's 62-year-old record for the most victims in a three-match series.

Sri Lanka have won all 10 previous Test meetings with Bangladesh and, despite Mendis's absence, will be confident of extending that run.

Six day test

As expected the duration of first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would be six days as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officially released the itineraries for the Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe tours on Friday.

The rest day, which has been shelved by the game's rule-makers since the mid-1990s, will take place on December 29, the day of the national parliamentary election.

It falls on the fourth day of the originally scheduled first Test that begins on December 26.

Sri Lanka will arrive in the capital on December 19 to play two Tests and a tri-nation one-day series that also includes Zimbabwe who will arrive in Dhaka on January 4.

The hectic home schedule will kick-off with a three-day match between Sri Lanka and a local selection which will start on December 21 in BKSP.

Zimbabwe will play their tour opener three-day match against GP-BCB National Cricket Academy from January 6 at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra and they will play three more one-day internationals against the Tigers after the tri-nation series.

On the other hand the national selectors will first announce the Test team for the two-match series against Sri Lanka after the completion of the ninth round of National Cricket League matches.

The Tigers will play the penultimate round of the country's lone first-class competition before another tough challenge against the formidable Lankans and after that the national cricketers will practice in a weeklong camp under the guidance of Jamie Siddons who returns from vacation on January 13.

"We will announce the Test squad after the ninth round matches. There is however hardly any chance to see any changes in the team except if someone got injured," said chief selector Rafiqul Alam yesterday.

There has been talk about uncapped paceman Rubel Hossain and the replacement of left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, who has been suspended from international cricket due to his illegal action but Rafiqul ruled out the chances of any newcomers.

"Rubel just returned to action in the last round of the national league and he has to play more cricket in domestic level to get back his rhythm and we are still not thinking about the replacement of Razzak," Rafiqul added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's planned tour of the West Indies in April has been rescheduled for June and July as both parties have other lucrative commitments during that time.

Spinner Razzak suspended

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak has been suspended from international cricket for illegal bowling action by the International Cricket Council, Bangladesh cricket team manager Shafiqul Haq Heera told bdnews24.com in South Africa on Monday.

"Razzak has been found guilty of bowling faults and cannot bowl in any form of cricket until his action is corrected," Heera told bdnews24.com correspondent Masud Parvez in the largest South African city.

Bangladesh Cricket Board's newly-elected director Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu told bdnews24.com coach Salahuddin Ahmed would work with Razzak to rectify his 'faulty' action.

The former national captain said they would apply for a reassessment of the bowling action once the spinner modifies his stance.

"At this point, I really don't know the details of the report. But I am confident that I will be able correct whatever faults I have," said a gloomy Razzak in Johannesburg while packing the bag to return home with the rest of the squad.

Razzak travelled to Canberra in November for an independent analysis of his bowling action after he was reported for a suspect bowling action by Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva during the second and final Test of the two Tests series against New Zealand at home in October.

The analysis report, revealed by the ICC on Monday, showed that the amount of elbow extension in Razzak's bowling action for both his stock delivery and the faster ball exceeded the 15 degree level of tolerance.

The elbow extension ranged from 22 to 28 degrees and averaged 25 degrees while his quicker ball showed results in the 22 to 28-degree range with an average of 24 degrees.

Lipu also said Razzak would not be eligible to bowl even in domestic cricket due to the degrees of his elbow bending, but could play as a batsman.

Umpires Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva reported that they had concerns over the 26-year-old spinner's faster ball and hence requested the ICC to review his action.

Razzak has taken seven wickets in five test matches and claimed 110 victims in 79 one-day internationals.

Razzak was assessed by Marc Portusa, a member of the ICC panel of human movement specialists, appointed in consultation with the BCB, at the Australian Institute of Sports on Nov. 17.

This is the second time Razzak has been reported for the same offence in his career. The first instance was during an Asia Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo in 2004 in what was only his second one-day international.